Miguel Sánchez
The hot African night in 1974 saw one of the greatest battles in history: against all odds, the low hours Muhammad Ali disputed the World Heavyweight Title to a young and devastating George Foreman. That "Rumble in the Jungle" he raised to the altars of the epic the legend of an Ali touched by the hand of inspiration. Against all odds, against all logic "The Greatest" again imposed his law in the ring.
A Eddy Merckx they called him "The Cannibal". When he was strong he attacked, when he was tired few were those who dared to attack him. His legs were as relentless as his inordinate thirst for victory. Not one happened. However, all this did not blame a daring dark-haired man from Cuenca. Luis Ocaña he systematically attacked him in the mountains until he experienced a terrible fall. Merckx had been genuinely intimidated, and although he won, he did so knowing that his victory was more a product of luck than strength.
And so… We could continue with many more stories. Stories of rivalries to the limit where, like Moby Dick and Captain Ahab, a multitude of teams and athletes have left their skin in unsuspected confrontations where pride and revenge moved immense gears of technique and strategy. If there is an example of this in the world of endurance racing that is the pulse that a spiteful Ford gave to the serene Ferrari in 1966. Soon we will be able to see him in the cinema ...
FROM COPLAS, LAWYERS AND MOTORS TO A MOVIE
The truth is that what happened between Ford and Ferrari in the mid-60s seems like the typical jilted love story capable of inspiring some of those popular songs as traditional as they are heartbreaking. Yes, the kind that always end up with knives, blood and dust in the ring. Very Lorca. And it is that at the end of the day Ford tried to take control of Ferrari during the 60s; To cheat Enzo Ferrari - we continue with the traditional jargon - the American giant had many financial reasons.
The day of the final courtship was in Maranello, when Henry Ford II appeared surrounded by a personal entourage of lawyers with the intention of acquiring the pride of the Italians. Apparently everything was going well, but there was a clause that infuriated "Il Commendatore", causing him to give pumpkins to the one who from now on would become his reviled lover.
The clause in particular contemplated that the sports division of Ferrari would fall under the complete control of a Ford eager to enter the world of European racing through the front door. Back home, beaten and rejected, the proud American vowed to beat Ferrari in one of its great strongholds: the 24 Hours of Le Mans. And also to do it in an overwhelming way. Thus, with spite as a flag and thanks to its British subsidiary, it was born the weapon of revenge: el Ford GT40.
Taking into account that Ferrari had indisputably won six editions of the test since 1960… The challenge was not easy at all. However, and based on an overwhelming technical and human team paid "American style" -with a lot of checkbook involved-, and to the expertise of Lola's engineers, Ford took its three GT1966 participants to the top three at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 40, reigning on the French track for the next three occasions and cutting off a Scudería Ferrari that has never won it again. A coplero drama that not even in the taverns of Triana is remembered ...
FERRARI, FORD AND LE MANS: THE DRAMA IS SERVED
As you can see, this story has everything necessary for a good screenwriter to fully use what he promises become a great movie. In fact - and if all goes well - this will happen in 2020 when a film is finally released that will soon begin to shoot putting these ingredients on celluloid. Not for nothing has the idea been circulating in Hollywood since Warner bought the rights to the book in 2013 Go Like Hell: Ford, Ferrari and their Battle for Speed and Glory at Le Mans in order to bring this fight of the titans to the big screen.
Finally, the book will inspire a series that the production company has not yet revealed, while the film's direction is being taken care of. James Mangold, one of those directors who perform blockbuster action like Logan without losing their dignity and occasionally give you a joys like the Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line.
Fortunately the role of Carrol Shelby will finally be played by Matt Damon, and not by the histrionic Tom Cruise. In short, it looks good. At least it has material for an excellent script and action-packed scenes behind the wheel with the possibility of enveloping the viewer in a seductive and maddened sound of galloping engines. And that ... That is already a lot for those of us who are lovers of gasoline!
PS1: Until 2020 you can calm the wait by seeing -or seeing again- the well achieved Rush, where the rivalry between Niki Lauda and James Hunt fuels an entertaining film with great driving scenes, excellent setting and another good performance by Spanish-German Daniel Brühl.
PS2: if, as with cars, in the cinema you like the classic ... We will never stop recommending you Steve McQueen's Le Mans. One of those movies where the result is as interesting as the process. A vibrant footage - by many misunderstood and undervalued - of the charming and unique gentleman who in and out of the movies was Steve McQueen.
